Straw-stacker



(No Modeln 4 Sheets-Sheet I.4

H. M. COFFEE.

STRAW STAGKER.

No.4o2,ao7. Patented m5111889.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. M. COFFEE.

STRAW STAUKER Patented Ma www/ew@ (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 3.

Hi M. COFFEE.

' STRAW STAGKBR. y No. 402,807. Patented May 7, 1889.

4Q? www 16M @$111, gfx/@MQW (No Model.) 4 Sheets- Sheet 4.

` H. M. COFFEE.

l STRAW STAGKBB.. No. 402,807. Patented May 7, 1889."

clfvitneoo 514120444506 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. COFFEE, OF BUNKER HILL, ILLINOIS.

ST RAW-STACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,807, dated May 7, 1889.

Application iiled .Tune 30, 1888. Serial No. 278,606. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, HENRY MCKINDRY CoE- FEE, of Bunker Hill, in the county of Macoupin and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straw-Stackers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inventicmsuch as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in straw-stackers.

The object is to provide a machine adapted for use with ordinary thrashing-machines, and at the same time one which shall be light, comparatively simple, and inexpensive, with its mechanical parts reduced to a minimum, and a machine that may be folded to occupy a small space during transportation.

A further obj ect is to provide a novel means of raising or lowering the carrier to suit the height of the stack without ip any way interfering with the progress of the machine.

A further object is to provide means for automatically swinging the stacking-elevator back and forth and regulating its length of sweep to suit the size of the stack being built; and a still further object is to provide a self-adjusting device for conveying the straw from the thrasher to the stacker, and one which at the same time will prevent the straw from blowing and falling around the stacker, and in fact practically guard the whole machinery of the stacker against being covered and clogged with straw, chaff, and dust.

fith these objects in View my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the stacker in position for transportation, with the stackingelevator folded. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the stacking-elevator extended and elevated, the parts being in operative position, and showing the mechanism for automatically reversing the swing of the stacking-elevator. Fig.

3 is a front elevation of the machine with the straw-transferring attachment removed. Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the mechanism for regulating the length of sweep of the stacking-elevator. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the reversing mechanism shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a detached view of bow 40, with the connected swivel-block 39.

A A represent the main side sills of the machine, extending parallel with each other and inclining slightly downward toward the rear end of the frame. To the forward end of these sills the front standards, B, are secured, and to the rear end arms F are braced. This frame is supported on bolsters C. Blocks D are aflixed to the lower faces of the sills, and to these cross-piece K is bolted. A pair of uprights, E, project vertically from the sills A A', and across their top is the cross-piece E. Braces e extend from this cross-piece to the standards B.

' Stepped in a box, k, on the cross-piefce K, midway between the uprights E,is a rocking shaft, G, the upper end of which is journaled in a box, e', projecting rearwardly from crosspiece E. To this shaft a brace, H, is rigidly secured near the upper and lower ends, thus forming in effect a crane of great strength, to the outer end, h, of which is pivoted a lever, I.

U represents a strawstacking elevator formed in two sections hinged together. Rolle s u are j ournaled in the opposite ends of these sections, upon which an ordinary endless-belt conveyer is carried. The side-boards U are fastened to the upper edge of the elevator to guard against the straw dropping over the sides. The rear end of the elevator is supported by arm .I pivoted to the end of lever I. To the upper end of rocking shaft G cross-piece 'Q is rigidly secured, and to the outer ends of this piece the arms V are pivoted on pintles o, said arms also being pivoted at their upper ends to the forward end of the elevator.

An arm, XV, is rigidly secured to cross-strips 50, connecting arms V, and this arm IV projects rearwardly and is provided at its end with a sheave, l-l. A cable, 4, secured at one end to shaft G, is passed over sheave l-I, and

its opposite end is secured to lever I, nearA the forward end of the latter. A sheave, Y, is also journaled in the forward end of lever I, as is also one, Z, in the lowerlimb of brace Swivel-sheave 7 depends from cross-piece IOO K, and a windingdrum, 2, having a crank, Q, thereon, is supported beneath sill A. A cable, 5, securely fastened at one end to the lower limb of brace ll, and from this point passed over sheave Y, th en downward beneath sheave Z, then under swivel-sheave 7, and iinaliy to drum 2, where its end is secured. At this stage the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l, the folded elevator being held against lateral movement by arms F. Now, by winding or unwinding the cable 5 on drum 2 the stacking-elevator is raised orlowered. The result of the operation is this: The winding oft-he cable draws the shorter or forward end of lever I downward, thus earrying with it the rear end of arm V, raising the forward end of elevator, as shown in Fig. 2,and the longer or rear end of lever I upward, projecting' the rear end of elevator upward, these parts all operating simultaneously. lt will be observed that cable l is always the same length.

Right in this connection it is well to explain the transferring attachment, as its selfacting operation is dependent upon and regulatcd by the posit-ion assumed by the stack. ing-elevator. This attachment consists of a frame, 2l, pivoted at its forward end on bracket-arms 35, and having -a sliding swivel-connecti on through the pivoted slide-block 3901i bow l0, secured to the attachlnents rear end. llows 2U Q7 are secured tothe elevator, and a rodM/Ttl, is removably bolted to the top of these bows. The forward end of ihis rod extends loosely through block 39 and has a sliding connection therewith. The attaclnnent 2l has a wind-sheet, 25, stretched across its forward end, and may have canvas sides. (lanvas may, besides, be stretched over the bows 2G 27, all these being to prevent the straw and dust being caught by the wind and blown over the working machinery. Within is an endless belt, 453, carried on suitable rollers. An elevator, 12, carries the straw to this transfel-ring attachment. Figs. l and l show two different positions taken by this attachment, and by an examination of these figuresitwill be observed that the attaehmentis absolutely self-acting, of course depending on the movement of the elevator. As the elevator is lowered, Fig. l, the block 3'.) slides down or back on rod Land the attachment tilts downward at its rear end, while, on the other hand,when the elevater is raised, Fig. 2, the block 30 slides in an opposite direction on rod il and is tilted upward-in other words, the elevating-belts of the attachment and of the stacking-elevator always being aliproximatel y parallel whatever the positions assumed.

To return to the more essential and indispensable mechanism of my invention, abevelpinion, M, is loosely mounted on the rocking shaft G, a short distance below the crosspiece Q, and from this point a pair of shafts, S and O, extends in opposite di reetions transversely of the machine. Keyed tothe adjacent ends of these shafts are the bevel-pinhms R and N, respectively. The shaft S is revolubly supported in boxes s, depending from the cross-piece Q. A pulley, T, is fixed on the outer end of this shaft, and an endless belt, T extends therefrom over pulley T, which drives the endless-belt conveyer in the stackilig-elevator. The other shaft, O, is the main driving-shaft. Itis journaled in boxes o on eross-piece E', and a drivingsdrum, O', is keyed on its outer end. Back of pulley a similar one, 1U, is keyed, and a belt, 1 (3', passed over this pulley and also a pulley, l5, communicates motion to the latter. Through this medium motion is given to the swinging gear now to be described. y

The numeral G represents a toothed halfwheel or segment. This is keyed to the roeking shaft G a short distance above the sills A A. short shaft, S, is journaled, and keyed to this shaft is a pinion, l., meshed with thc segment (l. A worm-wheel, il, is keyed to the upper end of the shaft S. lransverse shaft 1l. 'is revolubly supported in journal-boxes on cross-piece il. \Vormwheel 12 is keyed on one end of this shaft in engagement with worm-wheel i), and to the opposite end of shaft ll. an internal toothed gear-wheel, l0, is keyed. Meshed with the teeth of this wheel is a gear-wheel, 17, revolubly supported on a suitable shaft, 17. A shaft, lJf, on which the previously-mentioned pulley l5 is keyed, and through which motion is ennmunicated to the shaft, is in alignment with this shaft ll. On the opposite end of this shaft a gear-wheel, l2), is keyed. The teeth of this wheel are adapted to alternately mesh with the teeth of wheel 17 or the inter nal teeth of wheel l() to change the motion of the laterallyswinging stacking elevator either to the right or left. The position of this wheel l?) automatically shifted by peculiar mechanism now to be described. The inner end of shaft 14 is revolublysupported in a sliding journal-box, 1S. This box is pivotally and slidingly supported on the end of rod 1H', where it is automatically shifted by the following mechanism: The segment (S is provided on its upper face near the periphery with an undercut groove, o, in which the heads of bolts o are inserted. The bolts may be slid around to anypointin the groove and then secured by tail-nuts o2, so that their ends project upwardly above the face of the segment a short distance. The position ol these bolts is determined bythe length of sweep desired for the stacking-elevator. The

nearer they are together of course the shorten.'

ln the arm Z and cross-piece ma.

segment 19 are ineshed with the teeth of pinion 62, keyed to shaft 70. On the opposite end of this shaft a crank-wheel, (56, is keyed, and this wheel is provided with crank-pin p.

In the periphery of the crank-wheel or disk GG notches p are 'formed at diametrically-opposite points and preferably at equal distances from the crank-pin. Spring-pawl 64 is placed in position so as to engage automatically the notches of the wheel 66. Connecting bar or link 22 extends between sliding journal-box 18 and thercrank-pin p and is pivotally connected t0 each.

It will be readily seen that when one of the upwardly-projecting bolts o', adj usted in segment (3, comes in contact with one of the springs 03 from the turn of the segment the outwardly-projecting end of the spring will be forced against the arm 20, and when sufficient pressure is exerted to throw the toe on the end of spring-pawl G4 out of engagement with the notch in wheel GG the latter will make a lialf-revolution, stopping again on the other dead-ceiiter, which forms a lock with connecting-bar and holds the teeth of wheels lOAand 123 firmly ineshed, as shown in Fig. 4:. Then in the other position the teeth of wheels l-l and 17 are ineslied, and an opposite motion results. The object of springs o3 is to give wheel 66 a full half-turn and also a yielding contact.

The operation of thestacking-elevator and transferring attachment has been described, and to render comprehensible the modus 0pcrandi of the swinging gear a brief description of the same will ensue.

Motion is communicated through a suitable belt from driving-shaft O to shaft 14, in the direction of the arrow. The gear-wheel 13, keyed to the inner end of this shaft, is slid backward and forward by each oscillation of segment G through the medium of connectingbar 22, crank-wliecl G6, segment 19, and arm 20, so that the teeth of wheel 13 mesh alternately with the internal teeth of wheel 10 and the teeth of gear-wlieel 17, the former engagement operating to drive rocking shaft-G in the direction indicated by the arrow u, while the latter engagement drives the shaft in the opposite direction through the worm-wheels 9 and 12. This change, it will be noticed, is automatic, and the operation of the entire machine is dependent on the single driveshaft O. y

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the particular construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a frame, of a stacking-elevator, a straw-transferring attachment, the forward end of which is supported on the stacking-elevator, and levers and iexible connections whereby these parts are operated simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

2. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a frame, of a stacking elevator, a transferring attachment having a sliding pivotal connection therewith, and levers and cables connecting these parts, whereby they are operated simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

3. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a frame, of a stacking-elevator and a transferring attachment, both being pivotedto the frame and having a sliding pivotal connection with eachother, and arms, levers, and cables whereby the elevator and transferring attachment are operated simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

4. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a frame and a rocking shaft supported therein, of a stacking-elevator supported on said rocking shaft, and levers, arms, and cables connected with this elevator, whereby its inclination is regulated, said levers and arms also being supported by the rocking shaft,A

substantially as set forth.

5. In a straw-stacker, the coinbinatioii,with a frame and a stacking-elevator having pivotal connection therewith, of a transferring attachment consisting, essentially, of sides, wind-sheet, and elevating-belt, substantially asset forth.

6. In a straw-stacker, the combination, wit-li a frame and a stacking-elevator having pivotal connection therewith, of a transferring attachment having a swivel-block therein, bows secured to the elevator, and a rod secured to these bows, said rod having a sliding connection with the swivel-block, substantially as set forth.

7. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a frame, of a stackin g-elevator havin g a swinging axial connection with the frame and a pivoted connection with its axis, and a transferring attachment having a sliding pivotal connection with the stacking-elevator, substantially as set forth.

8. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a frame, a rocking shaft supported therein, and a cross-piece secured to this shaft, of a stacking-elevator pivotally supported upon the cross-piece, and levers connected with the elevator and with the rockin g shaft, whereby the inclination of the former is regulated, substantially as set forth.

9. In a straw-stacker, the combination,with a frameA and a rocking shaft supported therein, said shaft having a brace secured thereto and also a cross-piece secured 1o its upper end, of a stacking-elevator, arms pivotally connecting the elevator at one end to the cross-piece, a lever pivoted in the brace, a cable loosely connecting the arms with the lever, and a cable whereby the lever is operated, substantially as set forth.

10. In a straw-stacker, the combination, with a frame, a rocking shaft, the latter hav- IOO IIO

ing a cross-piece on its upper end and a brace project-ing from the rocking shaft, of a stacking-elevator, arms pivotally connecting the forward end of this elevator with the crosspiece on the rocking shaft, an arm projecting from these pivotal arms and provided with a pulley, a lever pivoted in the brace, this lever having a pulley in one end and a pivotal c011- nection at the opposite end with the elevator, a cable secured to the rocking shaft and the lever and passed over the pulley in the end of the proj ecting arm, also a cable secured at one end to the brace, passed over the pulley in the lever, then over a pulley in the brace, a swivel-pulley in the lower end of the frame,

and finally to a drum, where it is wound or unwound to regulate the inclination of the elevator, substantially as set forth.

1l. 1n a straw-stacker, the combination, with a frame, a rocking shaft supported therein, and a stacking-elevator pivot-ally supported on said shaft, of automatically-swinging gear for periodically turning the elevator in opposite direct-ions, substantially as set forth.

12. In a straw sta-cker, the combination, with a frame and a rock-shaft supported therein, the latter having a segment or halfwheel thereon, of a gear-wheel meshed therewith and a shiftii'ig-lwer arranged to receive motion from the segment, whereby the motion of the gear-wheel is changed, substantially as set forth.

13. In a straw stacker, the con'ibination, with a frame, a rocking shaft supported therein, said shaft having a segment thereon, of a transverse shaft having a worm-gear connection with the racking shaft, said transverse shaft having an internal toothed gear-Wheel on one end and a gear-wheel, 17, meshed with the teeth of this wheel, and a second transverse shaft having a gear-wheel on one end and an arm operated by the segment adapted to automatically slide this gear-wheel back and forth in en gagement with the gear-wheel 17 or the teeth of the internal gear-wheel, substantially as set fort-h.

1t. In a straw stacker, the combination, with a frame, a rocking shaft supported therein, said shaft having a segment keyed thereon, and a transverse shaft having a worm through which motion is communicated to the rocking shaft, of an arm operated by the segment and connected gearing for periodically changing the motion of the rocking shaft, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination, with a shaft having an internal toothed gear-wheel thereon and a gear-wheel, 17, the teeth of which are meshed with the teeth of the internal toothed gearwheel, of a sliding gear-wheel, an arm for moving said wheel into engagement with the teeth of the internal toothed gear-wheel or the gear-wheel 1,7, and means for oscillating this arm at predetermined intervals, substantially as set forth.

1G. rlhe combination, with a shafthaving an internal toothed gear-wheel thereon and a gear-wheel, 17, the teeth of which are meshed with these teeth, of a sliding gear-wheel, any

integral segment and arm adapted to operate the sliding gear-wheel, and means for oscillating this segment and arm, substantially as set forth.

17. In a strawstacker, the combination, with a frame, a rocking shaft supported therein, this shaft having a toothed segmentkeyed thereon, a spindle having a gear-wheel keyed thereon, the teeth of which are meshed with the teeth of the segment, and a worm-wheel also keyed to this spindle, of a transverse shaft having an internal toothed gear-wheel keyed to one end and a worm at the other end meshed with the spindle worm-wheel, a gearwheel, 17, the teeth of which are meshed with the teeth of the internal toothed gear-wheel, a sliding gear-wheel, a crank-wheel connected therewith, a spindle journaled in close proximity to the toothed segment, a combined segment and arm thereon at right angles to each other, and bolts adj ustably secured in the toothed segment adapted by their abutment against the arm to change the motion of the stacking apparatus, substantially as set forth.

1S. In a straw -stacker, the combination, with a frame, a rockin" shaft supported therein, this shaft having a segment keyed thereon, a spindle having a gear-wheel keyed thereon, the teeth of which are meshed with the teeth of the segment, and a Worm-wheel also keyed to this spindle, of a transverse shaft having an internal toot-hed gear-wheel keyed to one end and a worm at the other end meshed with the spindle worm-wheel, a gear-wheel, 1.7, the teeth of which are meshed with the teeth of the internal toothed gearwheel, a sliding gear-wheel, a crank-wheel having notches in its periphery at diametrically-opposite poin ts, a pawl for engaging said notches, a link conn ectin g the crank-wheel with the sliding gearwheel, a pinion keyed on the shaft with the crank-wheel, and a combined toothed segment and arm, the former having teeth meshed with the teeth of the pinion and the latter having lateral]y-projecting springs and bolts adjustably secured in the toothed segment on the main rocking shaft, substantially as set forth.

1n testimony whereof I have signed this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY M. COFFEE.

Titnessesz M. SEssEL, Lor CoL'rHAR.

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